M/S. VISHNU LAKSHMI MILLS PVT vs. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

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TCA/984/2015HC Madras26 April 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice M.DURAISWAMY6 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court noted that it was not necessary to decide the substantial questions of law due to the enactment of the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, and the assessee's subsequent filing of the requisite forms under this Act. The Court observed that no useful purpose would be served by keeping the appeal pending. The Tax Case Appeal was disposed of on the ground that the assessee had availed the benefit of the Act. The Department was directed to process the application at the earliest. The assessee was granted liberty to restore the appeal if the ultimate decision under the Vivad Se Vishwas Act was not in their favour. The substantial questions of law were left open.

What were the facts?

The assessee, M/s. Vishnu Lakshmi Mills Pvt. Ltd., filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) dated August 19, 2015, for Assessment Year 2008-09. The appeal was admitted on October 16, 2015, on substantial questions of law concerning the disallowance of expenditure. Subsequently, the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, was enacted. The assessee informed the High Court that they had filed the requisite forms under this Act on December 17, 2020. The Revenue was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Income-Tax.

What were the issues?

The High Court was to decide two substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the ITAT was correct in holding that expenditure of Rs. 41,54,811/- incurred by the appellant was capital in nature and liable to be disallowed? 2. Whether the ITAT was correct in noting that expenditure incurred by the appellant on the replacement of components for carding and roving machines and ring frames was revenue in nature and liable to be allowed? The assessee contended that they had availed the benefit of the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020. The judgment does not record specific arguments from the Revenue regarding the substantial questions of law, other than their representation in the appeal.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Tax Case Appeal No.984 of 2015 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 26.04.2021 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M. DURAISWAMY AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE R. HEMALATHA Tax Case Appeal No.984 of 2015 M/s.Vishnu Lakshmi Mills Pvt. Ltd., 1C, Gleneden Place, 310, Poonamallee High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai – 600 010.

... Appellant Vs.

The Deputy Commissioner of Income-Tax, Company Circle-III (4), 121, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai – 600 034.

... Respondent Tax Case Appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “B” Bench, dated 19.08.2015 passed in I.T.A.No.2206/Mds/2014. For Appellant : Mr.G.Baskar

For Respondent : Mr.M.Swaminathan

Senior Standing Counsel

Page 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.984 of 2015 J U D G M E N T (Delivered by M. DURAISWAMY, J) The appeal filed by the assessee under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('the Act' for brevity), is directed against the order, dated 19.08.2015, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “B” Bench, Chennai ('the Tribunal' for brevity) in I.T.A.No.2206/Mds/2014 for the Assessment Year 2008-09. The above appeal was admitted on 16.10.2015 on the following Substantial Questions of Law: "1.Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal is right in law in holding that the expenditure incurred by the appellant of an amount of Rs.41,54,811/- is capital in nature and liable to be disallowed? 2.Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal is right in law in noting that the expenditure incurred by the appellant on replacement of components for carding and roving machines and ring frames is revenue in nature and liable to be allowed in its computation of income?” Page 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.984 of 2015 2. We have heard Mr.G.Baskar, learned counsel for the appellant/ assessee and Mr.M.Swaminathan, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the respondent/Revenue. 3. It may not be necessary for this Court to decide the Substantial Questions of Law framed for consideration on account of certain subsequent developments. The Government of India enacted the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020 (Act 3 of 2020) to provide for resolution of disputed tax and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Act of the Parliament received the assent of the President on 17th March 2020 and published in the Gazette of India on 17th March 2020. 4. We are informed by the learned counsel for the appellant/assessee that the assessee has already filed the requisite Forms 1 & 2 on 17.12.2020 under Section 4 of the Act. 5. In the light of the fact that the assessee has already availed the benefit under the Act, no useful purpose would be served in keeping the appeal pending. At the same time, safeguarding the interest of the assessee in the Page 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.984 of 2015 event the order to be passed by the Department under the Act is not in favour of the assessee. Accordingly, the Tax Case Appeal stands disposed of on the ground that the assessee has already filed the requisite Forms 1 & 2 and the Department shall process the application at the earliest in accordance with the said Act and communicate the decision to the assessee at the earliest. As observed, the assessee is given liberty to restore the appeal in the event the ultimate decision to be taken on the declaration filed by the assessee under Section 4 of the said Act is not in favour of the assessee. If such a prayer is made, the Registry shall entertain the prayer without insisting upon any application to be filed for condonation of delay in restoration of the appeal and on such request made by the assessee by filing a Miscellaneous Petition for Restoration, the Registry shall place such petition before the Division Bench for orders. 6. With this observation, the Tax Case Appeal stands disposed of with the aforementioned liberty and consequently, the Substantial Questions of Law are left open. No costs. [M.D., J.] [R.H., J.] 26.04.2021 (2/2) mkn Page 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.984 of 2015 Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes To 1.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “B” Bench 2.The Deputy Commissioner of Income-Tax, Company Circle-III (4), 121, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai – 600 034. Page 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.984 of 2015 M. DURAISWAMY, J. and R. HEMALATHA, J. mkn Tax Case Appeal No.984 of 2015

26.04.2021 (2/2) Page 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

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